Hey Rebels, We get to see a different side to Nora in this chapter. What did you think? I am super proud of her standing her ground and setting boundaries for herself! #YASQUEEN Don't forget to join Emma's Little Rebels for another chapter discussion. Thank you for the gems, likes, and comments, I appreciate you all! XOXO Emma Taylor
NORA POV -Sparks surrounds me as Xander wraps his arms around me, trying to calm the blood racing through my veins. His warm breath against my ear and cheek, his deep voice coming out in a husky whisper. “It’ll be okay, Nora. I promise, give them a chance.”Turning my face so our noses touch, I inhale his scent, running my nose along his. My lips are about to graze his when the door swing opens suddenly. The sudden movement startles me so badly I jump away from Xander like he’s a bomb.Standing in the doorway is Damon, in basketball shorts, and a towel wrapped around his neck, water dripping from his hair. “Xander and Nora, what’re you guys doing here?” He asks, a knowing little smirk on his face as he looks at us.“We need to talk,” Xander says, his voice gruff and serious, a look passing between the men."Of course,” he nods, “but be quiet. The others are still sleeping. Movie night went late last night."“Fletcher here?” Xanders asks, in a whisper, as we step over the threshold.“W
NORA POVI swear they can see inside my soul as they sit with their black eyes next to each other. I wonder if they realize the effect they have on other wolves, the angst their presences create. Do the others not feel the intensity of their stares?“Nora?” Elle asks, tilting her head slightly, and I try my hardest not to flinch. I do not want them to see my fear, but it’s probably too late. I have a feeling nothing gets past these two. “Are you alright?”Without thinking, I tuck myself behind Xander, as my treachery comes stumbling from my mouth. “My brother sent me to spy on you. That is why I am here.” The words fly out in such rapid succession it was barely coherent.“I’m sorry?” Damon says, with a light chuckle. Peeking out from behind Xander, I meet the Alpha’s eyes. Closing mine to find the strength to repeat my sins. Plus, I don’t really want to see him storm towards me in anger.“Marcus sent me here to spy on you,” I say, clearly and loudly this time. Maybe a little too loud?
XANDER POVNora snuggles into my chest, finally asleep after a long day of plotting, and I know it’s exhausted her. I know she was feeling overwhelmed listening to the three of us talk. Eventually, the Gammas got involved and I could see it on her face, the terror. Charity and Matt might have lighthearted personalities, but Jesus Christ, the things that they suggested, made me flinch.It was at that point that she had been done with the whole thing. Unfortunately, we had to plan for all contingencies, mistakes, unknown outcomes. The reappearance of old enemies, because we all have a few.New enemies that want to have their turn at the chessboard could find our absence as the perfect advantage. We were taking a big risk meeting in a city. Too many eyes, too many variants to cover. Even with Damon, Elle, Matt, Charity, and Fletcher involved, there are too many variables to consider and prepare for.Nora sighs, wrapping her leg around me, her arms pulling me tighter, and I have to be than
ANDREW POV Theo’s arm is wrapped around my waist, his chest against my back as he holds me to him. I was stupid to deny what we have, and I can’t get that time back, but I need to make sure we don’t lose more. This is where I am supposed to be, and thinking differently is my biggest regret. I don’t care what the fates say in a week, on his birthday; I choose him. But he isn’t the only person I hurt in my spiral. His pain was the worst by far, but there were others. ‘Nora,’ Demitri mumbles from the back of my mind. ‘I told you she was nothing but a friend to him, but you wanted to be an irrational asshat.’ ‘Like you enjoyed watching him dote on her,’ I say with an eye roll. ‘Don’t bother lying about it, either.’ ‘Fine, we both owe her an apology,’ he counters. ‘The sooner we accomplish that, the better.’ As if Theo can see inside my head, his hold tightens, pulling us closer. His sleepy morning voice whispering in my ear, “It’s our day off. Why are you up?” “Don’t worry your prett
NORA POV The brisk morning air whips around, with the screams of children and teens play soccer in the field. Andrew continues rocking, sipping his tea, neither of us saying more, finding a comfortable silence in each other’s company. I wouldn’t say we are friends now, but I like him a little more than I did yesterday. I guess it’s a start. “How are you liking Silver Run?” He asks, trying to make small talk. Meeting his gaze, my eyes narrowing as I assess the man sitting across from me. “It’s different from what I thought it’d be,” I answer honestly. “We heard a lot of rumors when Tiberius was “Alpha”. But Elle…I can tell that her pack is happy.” “They are, aren’t they?” Andrew asks, pride in his voice. He obviously holds a lot of respect for the couple. “I have one question….” I trail off, wondering the best way to word it with offending the young wolves playing nearby. “It’s quite unusual for an Alpha to allow rogues to live within their territory…How…?” “Elle has an excellent
NORA POV“Nora…” Xander growls, his voice more animal than human, but even Ares is on the verge of denying my advances. I can tell by the way his body tenses. The two of them holding on to arbitrary guidelines on when the right time should be.Not wanting to hear his denial, I bring my lips back to the spot that drives him the wild. His fingers digging into my thighs as he tries to resist the little bites, I continue to give. “Baby, please…” Xander whimpers, still putting up a fight.Pulling away from his marking spot, my eyes meet the black irises belonging to his wolf. “And if something goes wrong tomorrow, are you willing to risk Dillon having me first? Because I am not. I want you.”My question igniting a fire of realization within him, anger rolling around in his aura as the most carnal “MINE” comes tumbling from his lips.“Yours,” I remind him with a smile. “Make me yours.” Before I have the chance to react, Xander has me pushed up against the wall. His lips on mine, head dizzy f
XANDER POVNora’s gentle breaths fill the air, the scent of us heavy and intoxicating. Ares is still howling and prancing in my mind, both of us high on the afterglow of having our mate. Our Luna. The only woman important enough to have in my bed, or in my home. The only one worth giving my time and energy to outside of responsibility as an Alpha.‘Five more days,’ Ares reminds me, as my eyes find her marking spot once again. The urge to sink my canines into the soft flesh consuming my every thought the more time we spend together.Inhaling deeply, I try focusing on anything else. Without warning, my mind wanders to the last thing I should think about. Dillon. The idea of him getting anywhere near her, setting me on edge.Turning on my side, I bury my face in her neck, inhaling her scent, pulling her hips against mine. A small moan fleeing from her peaceful frame as my hard cock pushes against her. Rubbing my hand along her thigh and ass, I groan. The dam broke tonight. All the things
NORA POVMy feet carry me upstairs, still in a foggy sex filled haze. A soreness sitting between my thighs that I don’t being there. Every cell rejuvenated with a fire and passion. A mystical change I can’t quite put my finger on, but whatever it is, I am embracing it, and the confidence it fuels me with.Entering our bedroom, my phone ringing loudly with Marcus’ ringtone. Rolling my eyes, I walk over, staring at the name sitting on the screen, contemplating if answering it is worth the risk. With the roll of my eyes, I pick it up, removing the charger.Relief flooding through me when the call goes to voicemail. On the verge of replacing it, the screen lights up as his ringtone blasts through the speakers, making me wince.Sliding the button, I raise the phone, making my annoyance known. “Yes, Marcus? To what do I owe the pleasure of hearing your voice at 7 am?’“Nora?” he asks, panic breaking through the grudge I am holding. “Oh thank the Goddess, I have been calling for hours.”“Sorr
Hey Rebels, Thank you so much for sticking it out through Nora's story, and do not worry this is not the last we see of her. To all those who have taken the time to read, comment, review, and donate gems I cannot than you enough for your devotion! Your support means everything to me, and I cannot wait to keep sharing my stories with you all. I would like to thank a couple amazing friends, and support systems! Seriously, without these amazing author friends Nora's book might never gotten finished, let alone started. These woman were so amazing and supportive. They read the five million edits it took to get this story started without complaint. They let me vent when I needed to vent, and gave tough love when I needed it too. If you're looking for new books/authors to read while waiting for Charity's book to drop in August of 2023 I highly recommend these women who have come to mean so much to me. Miri Googag, has "The Alpha's Guardian series," and 8 other completed book on GoodNovel
THEOFOUR AND A HALF YEARS LATER - LATE JANUARYAndrew and I are hunched over the desk in our joint office, pouring over the floor plans for the expansion. Our community home, Windsor House, has grown since moving its location to “the hub,” the neutral center between the packs, and rogue collective. The location is ideal for young wolves kicked from their homes, but don’t want to become pack members in Silver Run or New Moon to benefit.“We’re definitely going to need a larger kitchen,” Andrew murmurs, sparks erupting as his shoulder brushes against mine. Even after all these years, my body reacts to him the same as the first day we met.“With the way these animals eat? Definitely.” His laugh fills the room, and it’s like music to my ears.“Betas,” Seven, Trent’s mate, and the manager of our home, says through the intercom. “Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez are here to talk to you.” Andrew and I glance at one another, sadness radiating through our bones. Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez are the parents of
NORA POV ’He is quite the sexy beast, isn’t he?’ I respond, giggling, enjoying the seamless banter between us already. Sensing the shift in my aura, Ares lurches forward, Xanders irises bleeding into black. His tone was primal and so incredibly arousing. “Mate?” Before I can prepare, my new wolf is taking over, a name falling out of my mouth that makes him smile tenderly. “Alicia” tumbling out into the air like an animalistic grumble. The ache beginning in my limbs, and if it’s anything like my shift with Viola, it’s going to be a long, agonizing night. “Absolutely beautiful,” Ares whispers, his touch on my face soothing for a second before she tries to push forward, so eager to meet him. “Alicia, Goddess of Wildflowers.” His term of endearment is all it takes to send her into overdrive. Her desires clamp down on me, making mine irrelevant, the strength of her much stronger than I or Viola. My back bending backward. Her impatience has her forcing the shift before the moon hits its
NORA POV FIVE MONTHS LATER- A MONTH AFTER OCTAVIUS’ BIRTH “Xander, stop!” I look upward at the right moment, praying to the Goddesses I did, when I see where he is holding the scissors, ready to cut out a chunk of my hair. I could have had paid a professional to come remove my braids, or gone to a salon, but the whole idea of leaving my den or having a stranger inside makes me anxious. “What? What am I doing wrong?” He pauses, looking absolutely disheveled. Octavius proudly strapped to his chest. The man wears him everywhere and hates parting with him. “Look at my hair. Can you see where the feed in starts?” I take the strand from his hands, showing him the difference. “See, this part is where my real hair is, and this lower part is where the fake hair is braided in.” His brows furrow, and his mouth tightens in concentration, sweat forming on his forehead. “Ummm… I am sorry, I just know how much you love your hair and I’d never forgive myself….I want to help you, and I don’t…” He
CHARITY POV Paramore blares through the speakers of my stereo, my head resting against my favorite fuzzy pillow. I try to stop my thoughts from wandering to where they shouldn’t. To who they shouldn’t. A growl of frustration leaving my lips as Summer, my meddlesome wolf, pushes their faces into my mind. She feels no shame about wanting Matt and Fletcher equally. The idea puritanically sinful and thrilling. Wrong. Wrong. So very wrong. People don’t have two mates, and people shouldn’t want more than one. Maybe I am defective? What’s wrong that I cannot pick one and accept my choices? But the thought of not having the other makes me sick. My heart physically aches when I try to imagine the possibility. How selfish am I? They’re both waiting around for me to decide. To choose between them, how the hell am I supposed to do that? ‘We don’t,’ Summer drones on for the millionth time. ‘Making them share me isn’t fair, Summer!’ The argument flowing like a memorized script. ‘They need to fo
XANDER POV“And we have to have this talk here? Now?” I cringe, looking around the room, filled with people who shouldn’t be a part of this conversation. Damon, Elle, Theo, and Andrew sitting along one side, while Camilla and two others sit in another.“Yes,” she coughs, shuffling nervously, “it has to do with them, too.”“How?” I roar. The fury burst forth like a cannon, spewing her with vitriol. “How does you leaving me behind as a boy have anything to do with them?”“Xander, please,” Camilla sighs, looking around the room. “This goes beyond the both of us. Please sit.”“No, I don’t have or want to listen to your lies and excuses,” I scoff, “or did you not notice we did not invite you to our ceremony?”“You told me she couldn’t come,” an accusatory voice comes from beside me, and my anger is suddenly drowning in ice water. “Xander…”Meeting the narrowed pupils of my mate, I gulp, knowing I have just landed myself in a pile of shit. “I lied, and I am sorry, but she didn’t deserve to
XANDER POV “Well, don’t you look like a Dapper Dan,” a teasing voice comes from behind, and for the first time in days I relax. Turning, I grin at my Beta, happy to have him home. “I thought you would not make it back in time.” I walk up, hugging him in his lavender suit. My own a paler, dusty purple. Charity picked the color specifically because it matches Nora’s dress. The young Gamma has been running around like a chicken with her head cut off over the last few days. The five foot five general running the rest of us into the ground, except for my beautiful Wildflower. Elle and Charity taking as much off her plate as they can so they can rest with the pregnancy. “Sorry, I couldn’t make it back for Theo and Andrew’s ceremony,” he sighs, his body tensing, telling me the detour errand I sent him on proved fruitless. The Beta’s ceremony was a day and a half ago, and Fletcher was the only one in our close circle not present. “But heaven and hell would not stop me from being here for
THEO POV Cerberus gushes as I smooth out the jacket of the dark blue suit I have chosen for Andrew and I’s ceremony. Looking myself over in the mirror, I adjust the emerald green tie and the flower in my pocket. “Your mother would be proud of the man you’ve grown to be.” I meet my father’s gaze, surprised by his sudden appearance. Rolling next to me, he holds a box in his hands, tears and sniffles escaping as he looks me over. “I miss her,” I sigh, wishing she was here to enjoy this moment. “I do too,” he smiles faintly, recalling a memory. “Every damn day.” “Dad,” I say, not sure how to broach the subject, but I think it’s time we talk about the elephant in the room. “I don’t think mom would have wanted you to stay single forever…” My mind flashes to Camilla, the middle-aged brunette who seemed to know my dad better than she let on. “She was my mate, son,” his words lashing out like a silver laced whip. “And you want me to just forget her like she never existed?” He scoffs, pain
NORA POV “Holy shit, they’re glowing,” Andrew says, breaking the silence of the room. “Thanks, Captain Obvious,” Xander growls, not in the mood for the nonsense. “What does it mean?” “That I cannot answer,” Elle breaks into the conversation, stepping forward to look me over with her mismatched eyes. “But I think our marks are a clue.” She pulls back her collar, revealing a triple moon with two paws sitting in the full moon, and three stars sitting in the far right corner. “Theirs too,” she points to Andrew and Theo, but her focus doesn’t move from me, her stare fixed. Avoiding the questions, I am sure she has. I wander to Theo, who beams with pride as he reveals the tattoo like mark on his collarbone. “It’s beautiful.” I remark, looking between the pair, but don’t comment on how it’s not the typical mark meant for a Beta. “That’s not the mark a pack Beta gets, ” Xander says, peering down from behind my back. “Thanks, Captain Obvious,” Andrew returns, making Damon snort in amusem